Life Planning for Parents: 4 Things Every Parent Needs to Plan For

The transition from single life to parenthood comes with many new responsibilities. No longer single and worry-free, you’re now in charge of keeping a helpless infant fed, clothed, and loved.

Becoming a parent also marks the first time you have to think seriously about the future. How can you guarantee your child’s well-being as they grow from a baby into an adult with a family of their own? Protecting your child’s future starts with planning ahead. These are the four most important things to consider as you begin life as a parent.

Prepare for the Wors...

Planning for Peace: Tips on How to Financially Prepare for Parenthood

Having your first baby is an emotionally exhilarating stage in life to be cherished. But it can also be financially frightening. As you get to know your new bundle of joy amid sleep deprivation, feedings, and diaper changes, having a financial plan in place will bring you some peace of mind. Here are a few tips to help you prepare.

Revisit your goals

Just as marriage can change individual goals, bringing a child into the world requires parents to revisit their financial goals. This includes everything from adjusting your savings to coming up with a game plan for work and travel. It’s a good idea to hold regular meeti...

From flowers to warm weather, spring ushers in all kinds of changes.
Yet not all of these are welcome changes when it comes to your pet. But knowing what dangers they should avoid can go a long way toward keeping your furry friend safe. Here are the top 10 springtime pet dangers worth being aware of.

1. Windows with no screens. Who doesn’t love a fresh spring breeze? However, a wide open window offers an easy escape route for pets—so either keep windows closed or pop some screens in them.


2. More time outdoors. This is definitely a good thing so long as your pet is microchipped and wears a tag in case he or she gets loose.


3. Fleas. Warm weather brings out fleas and other bugs, so make sur...

Any parent of a teen driver will tell you that safety is a major concern.

One way to help alleviate those fears is to have your teen drive a safe car. Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) publishes a list of the safest cars for teen drivers.

This year’s list was the most stringent yet. The IIHS added even more criteria to the best used cars for teens, while small overlap front crash protection has been factored in for the best choices section of the list. And the bar has been raised for the less expensive good choices as well, with better side and head restraint ratings required.

Even with this new criteria, this year’s list includes 49 "best choices," star...

Recent reports show that despite big advancements in safety, there’s been a surprising uptick in auto fatalities.

Now, another report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) shows that pedestrian fatalities are also on the rise. The report reveals that the number of pedestrians killed by drivers jumped 11 percent last year, to nearly 6,000 deaths. That's the biggest single-year increase ever in pedestrian fatalities, and the highest number in more than two decades. The GHSA has called this increase “alarming and unprecedented.”

Experts say there could be several reasons behind the spike. More and more people are using smartphones while driving and walking. Peo...

During the rainy spring season, many people realize just how important windshield wipers are.
Yet like anything in your car, they don’t last forever. Constant exposure to the elements makes them one of the fastest wearing parts of your car.

When to replace windshield wipers

Windshield wipers typically only last about six months to a year. Telltale signs that it’s time to replace yours include:

• The edges are frayed or fold up.


• They leave behind streaks when you use them.


• They make a scraping sound.


• After battling snow and freezing rain all winter, wipers are often ready for replacement when spring arrives.

How to replace windshield wipers
The good news is that it can cost as little as $2...